Driving to the Darling River from Adelaide

For those wanting the shortest and most direct route to all the wonders of the Darling River Run, it is a wonderful drive along the Barrier Highway, while the 'road less travelled' will take you through the Riverland to Mildura and on to Wentworth where the Darling meets the Murray.

Adelaide to Broken Hill

The Barrier Highway: (Distance = 510km approx)

Not much more direct than this; but that is not always a bad thing, especially when you consider the area around Adelaide that this route covers. To the east of where the Barrier Highway starts/finishes in Adelaide is the Barossa Valley, one of Australia's premier wine growing regions. Not far from the Barossa Valley, and on the other side of the highway is the Clare Valley which is regarded as one of Australia's most beautiful wine regions. Not a bad start/finish for the Adelaide-Broken Hill route.

From there, it is an easy 3 hour drive along the Barrier Highway to Broken Hill.

Adelaide to Wentworth

The Murraylands: (Distance = 417km approx)

The Murraylands and Riverland route passes through Murray Bridge, a great stopover place and the largest South Australian town on the Murray River, and heads north to Loxton to meet up with the Sturt Highway and joining the Barossa <> Sturt route described below.

The Sturt Highway: (Distance = 365km approx)

While the Sturt Highway route is a little 'limited' by comparison to the route that incorporates the Barossa and the Claire wine regions, this route does have the advantage of travelling along the mighty Murray River via Blanchetown and rejoining it at Waikerie and Renmark before crossing it again near Curlwaa. Alternatively, a great add-on to this route is to visit Morgan, the point at which the Murray changes direction and flows in an east-west direction.

From Mildura on the Victorian/NSW border it is a short trip downstream to Wentworth where the Darling and Murray rivers meet.